Writers develop biases for how they capture the words in their minds and record them for others to read, hear, or see.
We both like to use paper, pens, and pencils for notes to ourselves. Susan keeps a notebook on her desk for thoughts and I have several notebooks on a shelf above my desk. Paper is convenient and lasting. You don’t need to wait for it to boot, you don’t need to worry about power, and it feels permanent. You can store those calendars and journals, without fear that the next hardware updates won’t read your type of paper.
Writing is a creative process, no matter the genre. When you create, you come to favor specific tools and media. That’s typical among all artists.
Susan loves the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. I preferred the Belkin models, but those were quickly discontinued. It’s a shame, but ergonomic keyboards were a short-lived trend.
For my daily writing, I have used various PowerBook and MacBook Pro systems. I loved the keyboard of the PowerBook models. They were like typewriter keys, with a bit of click to them. The chicklet keys of the 2012 MacBook Pro never felt the same to me, and now the 2017-18 “butterfly” mechanisms from Apple are downright annoying.
When I’m at my desk, I use a mechanical keyboard from Matias. The Tactile Pro 4 feels like an ancient IBM keyboard, without the metal weight. It’s my favorite keyboard. If I cannot use a pencil and paper, this keyboard is my tool of choice.
Some writers prefer longhand script on legal pads. I love that approach for my plays and short stories. Writing longhand slows you down and forces you to think, I believe. Maybe that’s simply a silly myth among writers, but I certainly write on paper slower than I can type.
Other writers, notably Mark Twain, embraced typewriters. There is something wonderful about the clacking and ringing of a typewriter in use. It’s a musical instrument with a distinct rhythm.
We have a friend who uses [wiki]fountain pen[/wiki]. I own several, but I do not use them daily. That’s a special dedication to the art of drawing letters, not merely writing.
How you write determines your speed. It paces your words and accompanies the words with tactile feedback. There are sounds emitted, too, as you write. There’s a sensory experience to creating texts.
Whatever your writing tool of choice might be, consider why you prefer that tool.